About

Welcome to PSR's Environmental Health Policy
Institute, where we ask questions -- then we ask the experts to
answer them. Join us as physicians, health professionals,
and environmental health experts share their ideas, inspiration, and
analysis about toxic chemicals and environmental health policy.

Brenda M. Afzal, MS RN

Brenda M. Afzal, MS, RN is the
U.S. Climate Policy Coordinator for Health Care Without Harm. She is engaged with several initiatives
including environmental health education, advocacy and leadership
development. Ms. Afzal works at the local, state, and federal level
to developing nurses’ capacity to effectively engage in the emerging area of
environmental health. She has helped to develop an effective network of
state and national environmental and nursing organizations that have been
engaging on common ground issues related to health and the environment.
Most recently she has led an initiative to develop a national environmental
health nursing alliance, known as the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy
Environments.

Ms Afzal has had extensive advocacy and leadership training. In 2007,
she completed the League of Conservation Voter’s Leadership (LCV) ELI training
and had previously completed LCV’s 2002 National Advocacy Academy in
Washington, D.C. In December of 2006, Afzal completed a year long
fellowship in Maryland Non-Profit Advocacy Leadership Training program, and she
also completed the Rockwood Leadership Training “The Art of Leadership” in
September 2002.

Ms. Afzal has a special interest in climate change, children’s
environmental health, drinking water issues, and chemical policy. She has effectively employed her
environmental health expertise concerning drinking water issues while
participating on national advisory committees to the National Safe Drinking
Water Advisory Council to the U.S. EPA and as an alternate on the Children’s Environmental
Advisory Council. She has served on the National Conversation on Public Health
and Chemical Exposures Policies and Practices Work Group, co-leading the
committee on secondary prevention. In addition, she is a member of the
Executive Board of the Children’s Environmental Health Network and the Alliance
of Nurses for Healthy Environments.
Professionally, Ms Afzal is active in both the Alliance of Nurses for
Healthy Environments and the American Public Health Association. Ms Afzal
is a Registered Nurse with a Master’s Degree in Community/Public Health
Nursing.